Strawberries & Cigarettes

Lights

Okay, short disclaimer (!!!):

There are mentions of self-harm in this chapter, so if that's something that affects you or you're uncomfortable with, then proceed with caution or sit this one out. Just be aware of that :)

Oh, and another disclaimer: Severe corniness and way too many bad metaphors ahead!!!

Alright?

Alright.

Let's do this.

                                                                         Song(s):

                                                      "Old Money" - Lana del Rey

                                                           "On Hold" - Fenne Lily

Louis lifted his eyes from his cuff links to look at himself in the mirror.

The black suit made his skin look paler than it actually was, he hadn't thought of bringing a tie, and the sleeves were a little too short for his arms, his ankles peeking out from the too-short trouser cuffs. He was also very very aware of the way the suit strained over his backside. This came to no surprise since it was the only suit he owned and he had bought it for his mother's funeral which had stitched tears and misery into every fiber, and a time in which he had without doubt been too thin and pale for the suit to still properly fit now.

With a sigh, he smoothed out the crinkled black material, his armor for the night ahead.

He was late.

From somewhere below him, he could hear the clinking of glasses and bright voices accompanying the smooth tones of classical music.

"Hey, Tommo!" Niall said in that moment as he blew through the door. "Hurry up! We're late as fu- Wow." He stopped abruptly, staring at Louis' reflection in the mirror. "You look... really nice. Did you shave?"

Louis batted Niall's curious finger away from his freshly shaven cheek. "No."

The door opened again and Liam entered the room, then Zayn. "You look good, Louis," Zayn stated matter-of-factly.

"Thanks," Louis replied, turning away from the mirror.

"Where's your tie?" asked Liam.

"Don't have one."

"Hold on," Niall called as he raced towards his room. After a few seconds, he returned with a baby-blue tie in his hand, presenting it to Louis proudly. "Tadaaa."

Louis regarded it dubiously. "Did that come with your nan's couch or did you steal it from a museum?"

Niall sighed and held up the tie to Louis' collar. "It brings out your eyes."

From across the room, Zayn giggled quietly.

"Fine," Louis said and grabbed the tie from Niall's hand.

"I am so tired of your constant wardrobe malfunctions," Liam said as Louis knotted the tie.

Niall had stepped up to the balcony and was leaning over the railing. "Wow. I guess this is quite the party we have found ourselves in."

The others joined him at the railing, leaning forward to see what he was looking at. The sweeping circular driveway was a puzzle game of various expensive vehicles and a seemingly endless string of people were making their way up the stairs to join the festivities.